I wish I had more time
When I hear people say this, my first thought is…Nope, not me, I’m good. I definitely do not want more time. More time would mean more to do. More multitasking. More responsibilities. More tasks to complete. No thank you. I’ll pass.
Matthew 11:28 Come to me all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Yes, please (insert check mark here). I’m DEFINITELY wanting rest. That sounds fabulous. I believe I work hard. I actually enjoy working hard. But there’s a limit to the fast paced, fit everything into every time slot, try your best to multitask, etc…that I can do before I just crave rest. Respite. Some downtime to literally do nothing. Who knows what I’ll do. Maybe some obscure task that isn’t on a “list”. Maybe I’ll remember something that I thought would be fun to look into. But the goal is to accomplish literally nothing. To set aside a time for nothingness. That sounds fabulous.
Why is that so appealing though? Why does it sound so wonderful that I’d start and end the paragraph with describing rest as fabulous? Maybe it’s because God has not designed me to operate in the current standards and pace of productivity in the world. And somehow, I’ve adopted them for myself. I have put myself into the world’s standards. That creates a battle. Because I’m not commanded to conform to the worlds standards. I’m commanded to conform to God’s standards alone. No wonder I feel weary and heavy burdened.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. And the Peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Again…Yes, please. I’ll happily take Jesus’ Peace. What could be better? Nothing could. And Jesus’ Peace is set apart from the worlds false sense of peace. I’d much rather have true Peace that comes from Jesus alone. And it’s quite obvious the world cannot give His Peace. The world just seems to want more, more, more, more…and there’s no peace to be found in it.
So how do I get Jesus’ Peace? The verse says it’s a gift given to me from Jesus. That would mean I cannot get it own my own. There’s no amount of striving for it or trying to somehow earn it than can produce it. It’s a fruit of the Spirit and a blessing given to me from God.
Philippians 4:6-7 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
In everything by prayer…(to God as his servant)
and supplication…(asking in humility and in accordance with his will)
with thanksgiving…(in gratitude for all the blessings he’s given to me)
And to let my requests be made known to God…(pour out my heart to him)
Then God’s peace which surpasses all understanding will guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus.
Amen.
I feel I need a sentence of separation before I go on to my thoughts. That is such a beautiful verse.
So is this entry just the tales of an overachiever? Pushing for more. Striving to be more successful. More productive. More efficient. Trying to be the best at everything by doing more. And More. And More. And More. And the results of living that way as God’s child, is my desperately craving his rest and peace. Because God didn’t create me to be conformed to the worlds standard of living. I am created to serve God alone. And when I willfully go against that, then I won’t be getting God’s promises of rest and peace.
So yet again…back to focusing on God is the answer…seems to be the answer for many of life’s issues and struggles for me. And once I’m focusing on Him, to simply submit to God giving me his promises in his time and in his ways. I see a pattern in my walk with God. I keep trying force God into responding by something that I do. That is impossible and would be an abomination to God. That’s my pride thinking I am somehow on the same level as God. Or even worse that God is below me and I tell him what to do. How in the world can God be so merciful and patient with me? The grace that I receive from God must be immeasurable. It makes me think God must have something GLORIOUS planned for me as he patiently waits for me to surrender and allow him to fulfill it.
Ephesians 3:20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,
Yes, Praise you God.
So perhaps I should change the title of this entry.
God, I need more time with you
So here it is.
Blog entry Eighteen
Follow God and Bake from your Heart,
Ellie